spotlight
in the
How group organisers are reacting and supporting the
group travel industry, plus news and more...Positivity in the face
of disruptionWhile it’s a challenging time for group travel, the
community spirit is being kept up thanks to positive
thinking among organisers and members.Bob Walker, who organises outings for Mancass in
Manchester, said that he has two trips currently affected
by the coronavirus pandemic: a visit to the Halewood
Jaguar Land Rover factory this month (the costs of which
will be refunded), and a trip to Japan in May. With a
trip within England planned for the end of June, Bob’s
remaining optimistic about the summer: “Most people
are staying positive, and even booking trips for next
year.” Rather than shying away, Bob’s group members are
looking ahead, towards late 2020.He added: “I think we’ve got to try and support the travel trade;
because if they go, we won’t be doing anything.”Sue Povey, group organiser for Out and About with Sue,
had a holiday planned to Northern Italy with Success
Tours, who she says are “dealing with it in such a wonderful
way, I’ve been so impressed. They’ve been bending over
backwards to help everybody.”The outbreak has had a serious impact on theatre trips
too. Marian Durbidge, who operates two travel groups, the
Herts Theatre Club and Go Together Travel Club, said she
has been contacting individual theatres to see if they will
offer refunds. She spoke of support from attractions they
had day trips booked with and said: “I phoned the National
Trust; we were going to Wimpole Estate this month, and the
staff told us not to worry about it. We’ll be rebooking our
trip. I had another positive experience with Burleigh House- they said, ‘we’ve been here for 500 years, we’ll be here for
another 500, so we’ll see you later in the year’.” She added:
“I’m hoping things will pick up again in the summer.”
To hear from more group
organisers and how
they’re staying upbeat,
search ‘Coronavirus’ at
groupleisureandtravel.comPostpone, don’t cancel
ABTA has recommended that customers initially
check if they can postpone holidays rather than
cancel, to help travel providers maintain cash flow
during the challenges caused by Coronavirus. In
instances where customers are unable to do this,
providers may offer a credit voucher instead of a
cash refund.
Read more of ABTA’s guidance in the ‘Coronavirus
updates’ article at groupleisureandtravel.comgroupleisureandtravel.com April 2020 5